Hosts

Ramie Little

Ramie is an over-educated, maker enthusiast. After graduating from Emory College, she traveled to Paris with Middlebury for her masters in French. For well over a year, she indulged all of her senses in movies, museums, bistros, flea markets, and lots of train travel. Upon her return, she earned her law degree from Emory School of Law, practicing law with law firms, large national corporations, small start-ups, and to the occasional benefit of her many artist friends.

While raising two soulful, creative daughters, Ramie also led school art projects and fundraisers and later went on to curating art for bigger fish, like the High Museum’s wine auction, as well as serving on Art Papers board of directors. Her girls think she’s a little obsessed with good, fresh food and art. It’s true…instead of furniture, Ramie filled her first home with paintings and other objects made by artisans of all ages, cultures and expertise.

With a growing need for more peace in the world—and, perhaps, a little bit less judgment—Ramie dreamed of easing out of corporate America to bring people to a table laden with amazing food surrounded by the creations of passionate makers. Taking a leap of faith (brought on by age and the sureness that nothing really bad would happen if she did), Gather Over was born with the love and care of a good friend, Macey.

Macey Ley

Macey is a mixed-media artist, corporate event producer, creative director, and donut-making hobbyist. Her artwork ranges from paintings and sculptures to installations and artist books, while her corporate work focuses on human-centered experience design for events, brand launches, and activations.

She completed her BFA in photography at the University of New Mexico, studied book arts at Studio Arts Center International in Florence, Italy, and earned an MFA in painting at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Macey has curated shows, exhibited her artwork throughout the United States and Italy, and provided creative strategy and production for corporate conferences and technology activations around the globe.

She has studied food relationships and the dynamics of family dinners in both her artistic and event-based practices. She believes in the power of well-design experiences that surprise, delight, and foster moments of deep reflection.

Gather Over combines everything she loves about life, art, and events. The crafting of it with her pal Ramie has led to some lovely people and amazing conversations.

Ciel Rodriguez

Ciel is an artist, curator, and educator based in Athens, Georgia. She built her early art career in the city of Chicago, attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received her BFA in interdisciplinary studio art with a focus in analogue photography, papermaking, and creative writing. Then, returning to her southern roots, Ciel moved back to Georgia to continue her artful journey at the University of Georgia, studying printmaking and book arts.

After teaching as a graduate professor in the Printmaking department, Ciel’s passion for sharing and learning new techniques in the studio led her to teach workshops at the local art center, as well as regional crafts schools, including Ox-Bow School of Art & Artists’ Residencies, Penland School of Craft, and Arrowmont School of Craft. She also previously worked at the Lyndon House Arts Center as the Studio Manager, facilitating the open studio membership program, as well as assisting with the artist-in-residence program.

While at UGA, Ciel also completed the Museum Studies program which led her down a career path in the museum world and curation. She began working as a gallery assistant at the Dodd Galleries and the Athenaeum contemporary art space before joining the Georgia Museum of Art in the Contemporary Art department. Being in the curatorial field, Ciel’s personal and professional goals are to support local and regional artists in their creative pursuits and share their inspirational work with the community. Life is more meaningful when we surround ourselves with art that inspires us, and Gather Over is the perfect opportunity to bring community and artful conversation together.